Group aims to reach at-risk juveniles

Robert F. Byrd speaks to juveniles during an Operation Outreach OG1 meeting. "We need to nurture their minds while they're young," Byrd says. "If the mind of one child can be reached, then it's worth it."

Photo By Cody Duty

A juvenile that could not be named listens to a speaker during an Operation Outreach OG1 meeting at Rodney F. Bryd Funeral Directors Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, in Houston. The organization aims to deter juveniles from gangs and crime-related activities that lead to prison. "We need to nurture their minds while they're young," Byrd said. "If the mind of one child can be reached, than it's worth it." (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle)

And countless other young minority men end up dead. Funeral home owner Rodney F. Bryd said his business has had to increasingly provide services for families of much younger victims than in the past.

"It is now to the point (that) about 50 percent of our death rate is young people," he said. "You get a death call, you expect it to be elderly people. But now you get a death call you expect it to be somebody young."

A reason for the staggering numbers is the lack of family structure and male role models, says OG1 Vice President Reginald Gordon.

"It started because you don't have the positive strong real role model at home, to see your father love your mother, to see your father open the door for your mother," he said. "That's why we have a lot of young men ... confused as to what it takes to be a male."

Program participant Christopher Guerrero, 16, met Rodriguez in a probation class and credits him and OG1 with giving him the confidence to make a change for the better.

"I feel great about this," he said of OG1. "I feel good being here."

One 15-year-old accompanied by his probation officer said the presentation made an impression on him.

"It's made me think of what I really want to do with my life," he said.